ing on the wall, that eventually all music would be distrib-
uted electronically. That seemed obvious because why have
the cost? The music industry has huge returns. Why have
all this overhead when you can just send electrons around
easily? 56
At first, the recording industry, which was used to distributing
and selling music in the traditional way, did not agree with him.
But Jobs never had a problem bending others to his will. His
persuasiveness and clarity of vision convinced music industry
executives and artists that it was a good idea. The iTunes Music
Store opened in April 2003. In its first day, 275,000 songs were
downloaded. A year later, more than 85 million songs had been
Apple Retail Stores
A
pple retail stores are another of Jobs’s successful creations.
The stores sell everything Apple makes, giving consumers
a convenient place to learn about and try Apple’s products.
The first store opened in Virginia in 2001. As of 2009, there
are 251 stores located throughout the world. The stores are
all stylishly designed. Many have won architectural awards. All
contain a Genius Bar, where customers can ask questions, get
technical support, and have products repaired.
Newer stores have a studio where customers can get help
in all sorts of creative ventures. The stores offer free group
workshops and one-on-one personal training. There are also
special programs for children, including Apple Summer Camp
where kids can take free classes in digital photography, movie
making, and other topics.
The stores are extremely popular. New store openings have
become big events drawing crowds of people who often line
up outside the store the night before. Usually the first one
thousand customers are given free gifts such as commemora-
tive tee shirts and goodie bags.
Into the Future
77